•Customs agents hint at confusion among implementation agencies
•Inflation, exchange rate defeat policy objectives – Analysts
•Policy not optimal – Afrinvest

Hopes of many low-income Nigerians for lower food prices may be dashed as the zero import duty policy on essential food staples appears to have hit fresh hitches.

Stakeholders cite citing lack of coordination, unclear directives, and underlying agronomic and infrastructural challenges as major obstacles.

This comes against the backdrop of renewed inflationary pressure on the purchasing power of vulnerable citizens, the main reason for the measure with the objective of moderating the prices of essential food items.

Nigeria’s inflation has consistently maintained an upswing since the assumption of office by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023 with a May 2024 figure at 33.95%, up massively from the 22.4% he inherited in May 2023.
Amidst the inflationary pressures President Tinubu, marking his one year in office, announced a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities to ensure a reduction in food inflation in Nigeria.

However, Nigeria’s inflation rate which peaked at 34.19% in June 2024 before declining for two
consecutive months of July at 33.4% and 32.15% in August, reversed the progress in September, rising to 32.7%, according to data released last week by the National Bureau of Statistics. This indicates that the hardship is far from moderate.

Amidst this development, Financial Vanguard findings show that the softening measures through the zero-duty food imports are not going to happen any time soon as the government agencies involved have been tied down by role conflicts in the process of the implementation.

The initial setback, Vanguard learnt, was the need for the Ministry of Finance to issue relevant directives for commencement, a situation which led to an initial two-month delay.

Also, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said that the federal government would forgo N188.4 billion in revenue over the five-month window for the duty waiver and this may have unsettled both the Finance Ministry and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

On August 15, 2024, Customs announced that the program was ready to commence following a letter of implementation from the Finance Ministry to this effect dated August 08, 2024.

But two and half months after the letter, Vanguard learnt that the programme had been further bogged down by bureaucracy and major disagreements amongst the implementing agencies.

Vanguard further learnt that the government agencies are now evasive in responding to inquiries from stakeholders due to obvious ambiguity surrounding the implementation.

Customs agents hint at confusion

Giving further insight into the controversies, a key stakeholder in the policy implementation value chain, Lucky Amiwero, who is the President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), expressed frustration over the unclear status of the zero import duty implementation.

Amiwero, speaking to Vanguard cited lack of coordination among the government agencies as the primary cause of the logjam.

He stated: “After our last petition seeking clarification on the implementation date, the government hasn’t responded. We only received feedback from the Federal Inland Revenue Service; there has been no clarification from any other government agency. We cannot waste money writing to a government that came up with a policy they cannot implement.”

Expressing frustration with the situation Amiwero said, “Look at the economy now, the economy is in comatose. So we are doing all these things to intervene to see how the government can reduce costs, but look at the policy they came up with, we cannot find the policy. We don’t know what is going on’’.

According to him, ‘‘the implications of this delay in implementation are severe, with many companies facing potential closure due to escalating energy costs, exchange rates, and oil prices. There’s no capital flow in the country, and the import system is dwindling because of the government’s inability to intervene and reduce costs.”

Policy not optimal

Meanwhile, Afrinvest Research, an arm of Afrinvest West Africa, a Lagos-based investment house, has questioned the policy’s effectiveness, suggesting that the protectionist approach may not yield optimal results due to Nigeria’s agronomic and infrastructural challenges.

The analysts at the investment house, in a report titled, ‘Suspension of Import Duties on Food Staples, Silver Bullet to Inflation Crises?’ stated: “The 150-day suspension period may need to be extended for more impactful results.

“However, adopting this stance without addressing gaps in the domestic agriculture value chain might deliver a weak outcome.

“Although the exact commencement date of the tax-free importation window is yet to be announced, the near-term objective policy is to paper cover cracks in domestic supply gaps induced by persistent conflict along the food belt, adverse weather conditions, as well as poor quality and high cost of agriculture inputs’’.

Inflation, exchange rates defeat policy objectives

Also pointing to the implications of the delay in the implementation of the zero-duty program on prices of the food items, the analysts at Afrinvest noted that both inflation and exchange rate have already overtaken the expected price moderation on those commodities targeted by the measure.

‘‘We note that the renewed pressure on the headline inflation rate was mainly fueled by the food inflation sub-basket.

‘‘Precisely, the food inflation rate rose by 25 bases points year-on-year and 27 bps month-on-month to 37.8% and 2.6% sequentially, reflecting the negative pass-through effect of energy price surge and transportation cost MoM, and the devastating impact of flood in key agrarian communities during the period.

‘‘A similar trend was observed on imported food inflation surging by 3.1 percentage points to 39.5%.’’
In addition, the analysts noted that the exchange rate has also moved against the policy objects while the delay lasted, stating that Naira has depreciated by more than 5.5% in the official market and nearly 10 per cent in the parallel market since the policy was announced, a development which has ultimately increased the prices of those commodities.

The Managing Director and CEO of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulaziz, has revealed that Nigeria supplies uninterrupted 24-hour electricity to neighboring countries Togo and Benin, despite ongoing concerns over recent power grid collapses within Nigeria.

During an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Tonight on Sunday, Abdulaziz confirmed, “We supply Togo, Benin, and Niger. They receive power from Nigeria on a 24-hour basis, and they are paying for it.”

Addressing why many Nigerians still face inconsistent electricity supply, Abdulaziz explained that not all citizens are affected.

“Nigerians are getting 24-hour supply, but not everyone. Those in Band A receive 20-22 hours of power,” he clarified.

Nigeria’s electricity distribution is tiered: Band A customers receive 20-24 hours of electricity, Band B customers get 16-20 hours, and Band C customers are provided with 12-16 hours of power daily.

Abdulaziz expressed confidence in the potential for nationwide improvements in electricity supply within the next few years.

“I am optimistic we can achieve a consistent power supply in less than five years. The new minister is focused on resolving the root issues, not merely creating superficial fixes,” he said.

He also highlighted that power grid collapses are not solely TCN’s responsibility, explaining that failures could stem from various sectors within the power system.

“A system collapse doesn’t mean it’s entirely TCN’s fault. It could be due to issues in generation, transmission, or distribution. Some may also result from unforeseen disasters. TCN manages the grid, but it doesn’t mean we are the source of every problem,” Abdulaziz emphasized.

Additionally, he sought to clarify the distinction between the TCN and the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).

“People still confuse TCN with NEPA. Back when we were NEPA, we handled generation, transmission, distribution, and marketing. Now, TCN is only responsible for transmission, but people often blame us for failures in other sectors,” he said.

Abdulaziz also acknowledged the significant infrastructure challenges facing the country’s power system, noting that much of the equipment in use is outdated.

“Many of the equipment we’re using are over 50 years old,” he pointed out.

Regarding electricity costs, Abdulaziz argued that Nigeria’s electricity remains relatively affordable compared to other African nations.

“People feel electricity is expensive here because they’re used to paying less. In reality, if you compare prices with other African countries like Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Niger, Nigeria’s rates are cheaper,” he concluded.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has replaced Adegboyega Fasasi as Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Bola Tinubu.

He has been succeeded by Rasheed Atanda Lawal, a Deputy Director of the DSS.

While details remained limited, Presidential sources suggested Fasasi was reassigned to undergo professional training. “Yes, I heard he has been replaced with another officer because he is being sent on a professional training course.

“At least there’s a reason for his removal, and you can’t really premise that on any particular scandal,” a source said.

The DSS Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, reportedly requested President Tinubu to release Fasasi to attend the strategic course.

According to insiders, it is a common practice for new leadership at the DSS to reorganise security postings, especially within the Presidency.

“The angle I want us to actually look at it from is the fact that such exercise as this ‘change of guards’ usually happens when the DSS gets a new DG… the new DG will always prefer to have his own trusted men on critical beats,” the source added.

As of Sunday evening, there has been no official statement confirming the personnel changes in the CSO’s office.

A draft legislative bill seeking to protect Nigeria’s raw materials processing and local production has passed the the first reading at the Senate.

A statement by Director, Corporate Affairs of Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Mr. Chuks Ngaha, noted that the bill if passed into law will chart the pathway to industrial growth and development in Nigeria, the statement said.

The draft legislative bill, sponsored by Senator Peter Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North), seeks to fortify Nigeria’s local manufacturing sector, reduce dependency on imports and ensure sustainable economic development through the promotion of local processing and value addition to the nation’s raw materials resources.

It also seeks to promote domestic processing while ensuring that no raw materials are exported from Nigeria without undergoing a minimum of 30% processing, thereby fostering value addition within the country.

On protection of local industries, the legislative bill seeks to prohibit the importation of raw materials that are available for local production, safeguard local manufacturers from unfair competition and encourage the growth of the domestic industry.

“The objective is to ensure that no raw materials are exported from Nigeria without undergoing a minimum of 30% processing, and prohibit the importation of raw materials that are available for local production,” the statement added.

The bill emphasised that no raw materials shall be exported from Nigeria without certification by the Council confirming that the materials have undergone the required processing.

On import prohibition, the bill indicates that no raw materials that can be processed or produced locally shall be imported into Nigeria, and that the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment in consultation with RMRDC shall compile and maintain a list of raw materials that are locally available for local production and the exercise shall be subject to periodic review.

We are now going back to the old ways of living in Africa. No thanks to the excruciating economic conditions Nigerians are facing.

Gone are the days when we compete with brands and qualities of toothpaste.

Even the least of the toothpastes cost an arm these days, and only the super-rich can afford them.

But for an average family, who depends on God’s mercies for a moderate one or two meals, out of the three required in a day, spending N5,000 on toothpaste that may not last two weeks for an average family of seven, is a misplaced priority.

So, it is no wonder that chewing sticks are back to the stable of family needs, Economy&Lifestyle have discovered.

Originally, chewing stick was a valued hygiene therapy mostly for the teeth, due to their high medicinal contents.

Chewing sticks are ordinarily from plants with rich medicinal values, and families of old insisted members compulsorily use them every morning.

However, with the spread of civilisation, toothpaste pushed the habit far into oblivion.

But now, the harsh economy has resuscitated the practice. According to Mr Vincent Osamese, a photographer, he reintroduced the use of chewing sticks in his house when he spent N4,000 on toothpaste in three weeks.

“Few months ago, I introduced the use of a chewing stick in my house when I spent N4,000 for toothpaste in three weeks.

“My children use toothpaste like water.

“My wife was reluctant at first saying she would do the buying.

“On trying it for a month, she was shouting and lamenting on the amount she has spent on toothpaste in a month.

“One morning she presented a chewing stick to me. I laughed and was glad I left her to experience what it takes to buy toothpaste at an expensive price in a month.

“Now we are using the chewing stick happily with no fuss.”

Miss Adunni Hungbo, a trader, said: “My toothpaste finished few weeks ago.

“Upon getting to a shop, I was told the brand of toothpaste I use is now N2,000.
“I felt like fainting. Something I got last month for N1,500.

“I was so very angry and couldn’t substitute for other brands because I have a tooth problem.I left the shop.

“As I was heading home, I saw a woman selling herbs and it dawned on me that with just N100 I can get a chewing stick that can replace the toothpaste.

“That was how I ended up using a chewing stick till date.

“I know you would say how can a big girl like me use a chewing stick.

“I earn N40,000 monthly and live alone.

“I have rent and bills to pay yearly.

“In such a situation,I needed to cut costs.

“At all at all is bad. At least I can wash my teeth.

“If I don’t tell you it is a chewing stick I used you won’t know.”

Mr. Fehintola Ademide, a plumber said: “How much does one make that he will spend all his earnings on toothpaste.

“The government is not concerned about whether the policies they are making are affecting us negatively.
“They are just concerned with raising revenues wherever they can.

“See the recent increase in fuel price, when you get to the market the price of everything has increased.
“There is nothing that the price has not risen.

“Toothpaste in question has also reduced in quantity and quality.

“It doesn’t last up to a week before it gets finished in my house.

“My wife had to introduce me to a chewing stick recently which I embraced happily because that will cut the cost of buying toothpaste almost every week.

“She went further to buy this powder cup paste for the children because they are still kids and their gums can’t handle chewing sticks.

“Also, you know kids like licking toothpaste so this particular one they can’t lick.
“At least these alternatives have helped cut costs.

“No big man anywhere now. We are all managing seriously.”

Maureen Agu, a trader, said she has been using a chewing stick for the past three months and introduced her two adolescents to using it.

“Myself and my two grown children now use a chewing stick.

“The remaining two I bought powder paste for them because they are young.

“The powder paste is N500 and I make sure I or their elder sister puts it on their toothbrush.

“How much do I make? I am the only family they have and I have to cut costs in everything I do.
“It hasn’t been easy though but I thank God.

“Convincing my grown children to use chewing sticks wasn’t easy at all because this generation of children are just looking for an easy life.

“When they saw most of our neighbours using chewing sticks, they saw that they were not the only ones in such a predicament.

“Everyone is going for what they can afford.”

Wooden chewing sticks widely used in Nigeria for teeth cleaning namely are Garcinia kola, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Terminalia glaucescens, Sorindeia warneckei and Vitex doniana which according to a study by the National Library of Medicine and National Center for Biotechnology Information titled:”Antibacterial activities of extracts from Nigerian chewing sticks”, exhibited strong activities against a wide spectrum of bacteria including medically and dentally relevant bacteria.

The research also said that these five chewing stick extracts showed potent activities against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, and multidrug-resistant Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Extracts from Vernonia amygdalina, Fagara zanthoxyloides and Massularia acuminata also showed activities against bacteria significant to periodontal disease.

A yet to be identified middle-aged man has committed su!cide in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. 

He was found hanging on a tree a few days ago. 

A resident of Bwari, Barnabas James, who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust said the deceased’ body was found hanging on a tree at the back of Deeper Life Road in the area. 

“Upon receiving the information, I rushed to the scene where the man’s lifeless body was found hanging on a tree on top of a rock," he said. 

He said a resident who was passing discovered the corpse tied with rope and hung to the tree.

James said security agents were yet to visit the scene as at the time he left Wednesday’s morning as the corpse was still hanging.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the country needs to do something urgently on insecurity which, he said, has taken over some parts of the nation.

Obasanjo stated this in Bauchi State, on Sunday, where he inaugurated road projects constructed by Governor Bala Mohammed.

He said insecurity in Nigeria today is worse compared to his time in office when he prioritised the security of lives and property across the country.

The former president insisted on community policing, where members of communities know their neighbours, adding that this was crucial to easily identify and address security threats within communities. 

Speaking at the palace of the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman-Adamu, Obasanjo stressed the importance of community policing in addressing the rising insecurity in the country.

He said the current state of insecurity in Nigeria needed immediate action to address the situation.

“The best form of security is community policing because everyone knows his/her neighbours within the community. With that, it is very easy to identify the bad eggs.

“The situation of insecurity in Nigeria today is so bad, unlike during our terms in office when we prioritise the security of lives and properties across the country. We need to do something urgently about this.”

He urged traditional rulers to encourage community policing in their communities to reduce the spate of crimes.

“During our service to the nation, we did everything collectively, our decisions were taken together to have a uniform focus.

“My brother, Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu, is seated here, and he will bear me witness. Whatever we achieved then was a collective effort.

“We need peace, unity, and collective support in this country if we must move forward. Things can be right and good again in the country, all we need to do is to get united and do things collectively,” he noted.

The former President equally disclosed the donation of hearing aids to 2,000 people with hearing difficulties in Bauchi.

He explained that many people suffered deafness unknowingly until medical checks revealed to them their hearing capacity.

Obasanjo narrated how he discovered being partially deaf when he was abroad and could not hear clearly while someone was talking to him.

He had insisted nothing was wrong with his ears when the man asked for his permission to check on his ears.

He stated that after the result came out, it was revealed that he was 25 per cent deaf.

“After my result came out, I had to ask the man to also check on my Chief Security Officer then, but shockingly, he was more deaf than I was,” he said.

He said the experience informed the establishment of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, where thousands of Nigerians had benefited from its ear treatments and provision of hearing aids.

He noted that he would kick off the distribution of hearing aids to over 10,000 indigent people in the North-East, starting from Bauchi State, where 2,000 people would benefit.

Obasanjo expressed the belief that African countries were not created by God to be poor, adding that their poverty resulted from bad leadership.

Speaking on the inaugurated road, the governor said his blueprint, which included the roads, was designed even before he was returned elected as governor of the state.

“I instructed them to develop a road map for the project that will serve our people regardless of the outcome of the election.

“I believe that leadership is not about personal ambition but about collective progress and well-being of our people.

“The project we are inaugurating today is part of our larger ambition for the state,” he said.

Mohammed said his administration prioritised the construction and rehabilitation of roads in the state to aid development.

“As of today, we have undertaken the construction of 116 road projects, totalling 1,482.25km across Bauchi State.

“The roads we are commissioning today have significant milestones in our journey to build a new Bauchi.

“They are 7km dualisation of Awala-Maiduguri road, dualisation of 17.7km Kano road to Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi, 30KM Gubi Gari, Ruda Bida, Siyi to Nasarawa road connecting two local government areas of Bauchi and Ganjuwa,” he said.

Ahead of the Ondo State November 16 off-cycle governorship election, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje,  has declared that the ruling party is working hard to ensure it spread its tentacles in Southwest states.

Ganduje made this known on Sunday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, alongside members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC).

Ganduje was joined by Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Talabi Olatokunbo.

Others at the meeting include Isaac Kekemeke (APC, Deputy National Chairman (South), Senator Ajibola Bashiru (APC National Secretary), Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, among prominent members of the party in the Southwest region.

Speaking at the meeting, Ganduje said Oyo and Osun states must be under the capture of the APC to boost President Bola Tinubu’s support in the 2027 election.

While stating that the party would not reveal its strategy in winning the states in the region, Ganduje urged leaders of the APC to close ranks and ensure unity among members and followers.

He said the governorship election in Ondo is a walkover for the APC, adding that all the leaders at the national level have thrown their support for incumbent Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

He said, “In this geopolitical zone, we must deliver 100 percent in favour of APC. Therefore, Ondo State, you must be the forefront the two other states – Oyo and Osun – we will capture them, but I will not reveal our secret. We are strategising. Everything must be 100 per cent behind President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“In this coming election, we are solidly behind Governor Aiyedatiwa. We have made arrangements at the national level to have a successful election and I announce Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Chairman National Campaign Council.

“This election is a task that must be done. We are encouraged by this large crowd of stakeholders. It shows there is unity, solidarity, and vigour in the party. We are expecting 90 percent votes in the forthcoming governorship election. You have to visit house to house. Neighbour to neighbour and ensure that people come out to vote,.

“Let me remind those who contested the primary election with Aiyedatiwa that are not losers because there is no victor, no vanquish in the exercise.”

An Ikeja Special Offences Court has convicted and sentenced an oil marketer, Victor Ojomo, and his company, Vijorm Oil Nigeria Limited, to 30 years imprisonment for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme and defrauding a businessman of N47,645,000.

Justice Rahman Oshodi delivered the judgment on Friday, convicting Ojomo on three counts: conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, obtaining money by false pretence, and stealing.

In his judgment, Justice Oshodi stated, “You orchestrated an elaborate scheme to defraud the victim of N47,645,000 and showed no remorse throughout the proceedings.”

The judge highlighted the severe impact of Ojomo’s actions, noting, “The victim has been deprived of his funds for years, and the impact on his life cannot be overstated.” 

The court also ordered a restitution of the sum of N47,645,000 to the victim.

Justice Oshodi further convicted Ojomo’s company and held that it would be wound up if it failed to pay the fines imposed against it, within 90 days.

Although Ojomo was a first-time offender, the judge emphasised that the gravity of his offences far outweighed any mitigating factor. 

“Given the severity of the offences and the need for deterrence, I have decided to impose a sentence of 70% of the maximum prescribed sentences,” he said.

The court sentenced Ojomo to 14 years’ imprisonment for both the first and second counts, and two years and one month for the third count.

These sentences are to run concurrently, beginning from July 10, 2023, the date of his remand.

Justice Oshodi acknowledged that N2m had been recovered from MAO Petroleum and returned to the victim, but stressed, “This represents only a fraction of what was taken, leaving a balance of N47,645,000.”

The judge made a restitution order for the full amount under Section 11 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, instructing that all funds in Exhibit F, in the name of Vijorm Oil Nigeria Limited, be applied towards restitution.

“The prosecution is to ensure full restitution is made, as per Section 11 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act,” he added.

The judge also offered Ojomo the possibility of a reduced sentence if he made full restitution. “If you make full restitution of N47,645,000 to the victim, your sentence will be reduced to seven years, which is 50% of your sentence.

“I urge you to reflect on your actions and use this time to reform yourself.”

Ojomo’s company, Vijorm Oil Nigeria Limited, was also convicted of fraud.

While the company, as a corporate entity, cannot be imprisoned, it was held accountable for its role in the scheme.

Justice Oshodi imposed fines on the company: N2.5m, each for the first and second counts, and N500,000 for the third count.

The judge warned that if the company failed to pay the fines within 90 days, it would be wound up and its assets forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“These sentences reflect the severe nature of using a corporate structure to perpetrate fraud,” Justice Oshodi remarked.

“Your actions have harmed the victim and eroded public confidence in legitimate business transactions.

“This sentence is designed as both punishment and deterrence to others contemplating similar fraudulent activities.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had arraigned Ojomo and his company on charges of fraud arising from a purported oil trading deal involving 5,000 metric tonnes of Automotive Gas Oil.

The prosecution accused the convicts of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, and stealing.

Justice Oshodi recounted the case, stating, “In 2018, the complainant, Mr Abdulwaheed Jimoh (Prosecution Witness 1), entrusted the defendants with the sum of N49,645,000 to facilitate the importation of 5,000mt of AGO from Lome to Nigeria.”

The central issue, the judge noted, was not whether the money changed hands, but the intentions behind the transaction and the subsequent actions of the parties involved.

The defence, led by Mr. Ayo Olumofin, argued that Ojomo’s failure to supply the AGO was due to a frustrated transaction, not deceit.

They blamed a third party, Mr Philip, for failing to issue a bank guarantee or standby letters of credit, and pointed to the absence of a valid lien instrument.

“They alleged that the document submitted by PW1 (Exhibit B) was false, thus rendering the entire deal untenable,” Justice Oshodi summarised.

However, the prosecution, led by Mr. T. J. Banjo, argued that the defendants had never intended to fulfil their promises, presenting evidence that a purported N100m, block fund from GTB, offered by the defendants to PW1, was fabricated.

The prosecution also alleged that payments for naval clearance, storage at MAO Petroleum Company Limited, and other associated costs were a ruse to deceive PW1.

After reviewing the evidence and testimony, Justice Oshodi concluded, “The prosecution has successfully proven all three charges beyond reasonable doubt.

“The totality of the evidence paints a coherent picture of a fraudulent scheme orchestrated by the defendants.”

Ojomo and his company were found guilty on all counts of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, obtaining money by false pretence, and stealing.

A five-year-old girl was allegedly r@ped by three minors aged 6, 13, and 16 years old in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district, India, the police said on Saturday, October 19, 2024. 

The police registered a case against the accused under relevant provisions of the Bharantiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from S@xual Offences (POCSO) Act based on a complaint lodged by the girl's mother.

The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, October 16, in the Kotwali police station area.  

Superintendent of police Vikrant Veer stated that the three accused have been detained and are being questioned. 

According to Veer, the accused r@ped the minor while they were playing on the roof of their house. 

"On the complaint of the mother of the five-year-old girl, the police have filed a case against the three children,” he said.

“The crime scene has been inspected with the help of a forensic team and legal action is being taken by identifying the three children."